Some asset categories held by Romanian banks could be excluded from the tax on financial assets, finance minister Eugen Teodorovici said in a joint press conference with EIB Vice-President Andrew McDowell.

The exempted assets may include loans extended under government programmes like the First Home and the loans granted by local banks from resources extended by the European Investment Bank (EIB) or the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), he added, according to local Profit.ro.

Government bonds could be another asset class excepted from the tax, Teodorovici said.

"The categories of financial assets (to which the tax will apply) will be defined in such a way as to stimulate economic activity," he stated.

Teodorovici was supposed to discuss with ARB representatives during the same day. “What can come out of this discussion with ARB is a package. We do not discuss separately," the minister said.

According to him, important changes can be made to the OUG 114, such as the method of calculating the tax and waiving the tax for classes of assets. All these changes, however, must be for the benefit of companies and the population, the minister said.

"The principles of OUG 114 remain the same," he added.

editor@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Gov.ro)